Hoppers of North Carolina

Hoppers of North Carolina:
Spittlebugs, Leafhoppers, Treehoppers, and Planthoppers

Family (Alpha):

CICADELLIDAE Members:	NC Records
Atanus perspicillatus - No Common Name

Taxonomy

Family: CICADELLIDAE

Subfamily: Deltocephalinae

Identification

Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF iNaturalist Google
Description: A pale species with variable markings. The body and wings are cream to grayish in color, and the face has brown arcs and marks. The crown has a broken waved line above the margin, and there is a Y-shaped spot in the middle of the crown and a broken O-shaped mark next to each eye. The pronotum has brown spots, usually in pairs near the base with the most prominent ones behind the eyes. There is a distinct set of black dots on the wings, with four spots spaced out from the inner edge of the wings, in the shape of a square. Three pairs of black spots are located on the inner wing edge, though the pair of spots closest to the head may not be present at times. The female pregenital sternite has the posterior margin angularly produced about one-third the length of the segment. The male genital plates are triangular and elongated, with the apices narrow and attenuate. Adults are 3.5-4.0 mm long. (DeLong 1978)

Distribution in North Carolina

County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.

Distribution: Eastern and central United States

Abundance: This species has been recently recorded from several counties across the state, where it is rare, but possibly more widespread in the right habitat.

Seasonal Occurrence

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Has been recorded in the state in mixed to open forest habitat.

Plant Associates:

Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.

Comment: A rather rare genus with only this species widespread in the east (BG); other species that occur in the east are much more rare. These species can only be distinguished based on genitalia as they are all visually similar. Therefore, records of Atanus in NC for now will be assumed to represent perspicillatus.

Status: Native

Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Atanus perspicillatus No Common Name
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Craven Co. Comment:	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Ashe Co. Comment: males, uv light trap; mixed pine hardwoods
	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Ashe Co. Comment: males, uv light trap; mixed pine hardwoods	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Ashe Co. Comment: males, uv light trap; mixed pine hardwoods
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Attracted to UV light. Suburban yard near woods.	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Attracted to UV light. Suburban yard near woods.
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Transylvania Co. Comment: female; 3.8 mm	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Transylvania Co. Comment: female; 3.8 mm
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Transylvania Co. Comment: female; 3.8 mm	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Ashe Co. Comment: male
	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Ashe Co. Comment:	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Ashe Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Ashe Co. Comment:	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Rockingham Co. Comment: grassy area near mixed hardwood forest and a pond; ID confirmed via specimen
	Photo by: vin stanton Buncombe Co. Comment:	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Rockingham Co. Comment: grassy area near mixed hardwood forest and a pond
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Rockingham Co. Comment: grassy area near mixed hardwood forest and a pond	Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Attracted to Black Light
	Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Attracted to Black Light	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: mixed hardwood, open forest near lake edge
	Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Attracted to Black Light

Atanus perspicillatus - No Common Name

Species Photo Gallery for Atanus perspicillatus No Common Name